Catney chosen to carry SDLP banner in assembly election

THE man who once famously pulled pints for ambassadors, Washington politicians and members of the international media during some of the worst years of the Troubles has been chosen to contest Lagan Valley for the SDLP in next May's Assembly elections.

And Pat Catney has promised to serve all of the local electorate with the same professionalism that helped forge his reputation as one of Northern Ireland's most successful Licensed Vintners.

Speaking after his selection at a meeting in Lisburn, Mr. Catney said he was privileged and humbled to have received the endorsement of his party.

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"Our priority will be to fight for a better future for the people of Lagan Valley," he said. "I am prepared to stand up and back projects that will help create jobs and investment.

"The John Lewis development at Sprucefield comes into that category. It is absolutely crazy to try and block a scheme that will create more than a thousand new and highly paid jobs.

"The same commitment will be given to protecting the jobs at the Randox plant outside Crumlin. Nobody in their right mind would want to jeopardise the future of Randox.

"The potential loss of hundreds of highly skilled scientific jobs to the Republic because of the threat posed by a chicken waste incinerator being built nearby just wouldn't be allowed to happen anywhere else."

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Mr. Catney said he was confident that the SDLP, which doesn't currently have a seat in Lagan Valley, could change that.

"Despite changes in the boundaries of the constituency there is no reason why, given the right organisation we can't win," he continued. "We have a common sense message that unlike other parties all of the people of Lagan Valley can buy into."

And Mr. Catney has pledged there will be no such thing as "no go tribal areas" when it comes to getting the SDLP message across to the electorate.

"There will be no green and orange mapped areas in Lagan Valley when we are out canvassing as part of the SDLP team. Every vote is precious whether it is first, second or third preference."

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Mr. Catney started off his working life as a 15-year-old trainee barman at the Four Trees in Moira before going on to own some of the region's most famous landmark public houses including Belfast's Kitchen Bar.

"There was no better training ground for understanding the nature of human beings than being behind a bar," he continued. "The lessons I learned during those years I am determined to translate into my political life. The human basics are the same for everybody, no matter what their cultural or religious background," he concluded.

SDLP Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Lisburn, Brian Heading, congratulated Mr Catney' on his nomination.

"I welcome Pat's belief that he can build on the support following the SDLP Lagan Valley result in the Westminster Election" Mr Heading said. "Pat, who has described himself as a political novice, has seized the opportunity to put himself before the electorate and join in the cut and thrust of electoral politics.

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"He will no doubt use his business skills and his experience as a Publican to bring to the world of political campaigning something not seen before in a candidate for elected office."

Mr Heading went on to say: "For my part I will be concentrating on building the SDLP vote at Local Government level. Being Deputy Mayor this year has been a privilege. I remain committed to representing the people of Dunmurry Cross and that is where I will be concentrating my efforts next year."

"My focus will be on the economy and jobs. Lisburn has been hit hard by the recession as unemployment continues to grow providing less opportunity the long term unemployed and young people. People continue to live in hardship and I will be working for the betterment of the people of Dunmurry Cross, fighting their corner on a range of issues.

"The SDLP is about the future and building a society free from sectarianism. My concentration lies in bringing this message to the people of Lisburn and maximising our vote in the forthcoming Local Government elections," he concluded.